Blessings of Ramadan

Fasting For Better Soul and Health

Ramadan is the ninth lunar month in the Islamic calendar. The majority of Muslims all over the world fast every day of this month from dawn to the sunset. During fasting, they abstain from eating, drinking and sexual encounter as ordained by God in the Quran (2:187).

There are cases when a person can be excused from fasting. God tells us that He did not reveal the Quran to cause us any hardship (20:2). Therefore, if a person is unable to fast for some reason, God gives him or her other options.

Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, an equal number of other days may be substituted. Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast. If one

volunteers (more righteous works), it is better. But fasting is the best for you, if you only knew. (2:184)

Benefits of Fasting

God would never ask us to fast if it was not beneficial for us, both spiritually and physically. God tells us that the human beings do not always have a good judgment of what is good for them “… you may dislike something which is good for you, and you may like something which is bad for you. GOD knows while you do not know.” (2:216)

Fasting, like all other religious duties, helps us to remember God and appreciate His blessings. God does not need our fasting. It is we who need the benefits of fasting to attain salvation. To receive the spiritual benefits of fasting, we should

maintain our righteousness and refrain from any behavior that may jeopardize the positive growth of our souls.

There are numerous physical benefits for our body from fasting. One of the health benefits of fasting is the “detoxification.” The excerpts below are taken from an article by W. Carroll on The Health Benefits of Fasting.

Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph glands, and skin.” This process is precipitated by fasting because when food is no longer entering the body, the body turns to fat reserves for energy…. These fat reserves were created when excess glucose and carbohydrates were not used for energy or growth, not excreted, and therefore converted into fat.